Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/126

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THE REPUBLICAN COURT.

and was married to her on the thirteenth of March, 1786, when she was in her sixteenth year.

John Adams soon after wrote to him a letter of congratulation. "I heard some time ago," he says, "of your marriage with the daughter of my old friend Mr. Alsop, as well as of the marriage of Mr. Gerry,^[1] and of both with the more pleasure, probably, as a good work of the same kind, for connecting Massachusetts and New York in the bonds of love, was going on here. Last Sunday, under the right reverend sanction of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of St. Asaph, were married Mr. Smith and Miss Adams. It will be unnatural if federal purposes are not answered by these intermarriages."

As all executive and legislative functions were at this time discharged by Congress, its sessions were in some sense permanent, for as the term of one Congress expired that of the next would begin. Mr. King therefore rarely found time to visit his constituents, but resided habitually in the metropolis, with Mr. Alsop, who had long been a widower, with no other child than his daughter Mary. His house was number thirty-eight South street, as that part of William street was then called which extended from Maiden Lane to Old Slip. It was near the corner of Maiden Lane, to which there was an opening through the yard, and when the name of William was given to the whole street the number was changed to sixty-two.

Mrs. King was remarkable for personal beauty; her face was oval, with finely formed nose, mouth, and chin, blue eyes, a clear brunette complexion, black hair, and fine teeth. Her movements were at once graceful and gracious, and her voice musical. She

↑ Mr. Elbridge Gerry was elected to the Congress in 1784, and though then but forty years of age, was the oldest member of that body. He and Mr. King were married about the same time. Mr. Gerry's wife was the daughter of Mr. James Thompson, and was a woman as distinguished by her beauty and personal worth as by her family and social connections. She survived her husband many years, and died at a very advanced age, in Connecticut, in 1849.

[1] Mr. Elbridge Gerry was elected to the Congress in 1784, and though then but forty years of age, was the oldest member of that body. He and Mr. King were married about the same time. Mr. Gerry's wife was the daughter of Mr. James Thompson, and was a woman as distinguished by her beauty and personal worth as by her family and social connections. She survived her husband many years, and died at a very advanced age, in Connecticut, in 1849.

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